Bull Market Five-Year Anniversary: Then Versus Now!

Thursday, March 6, 2014, is more than just an important day for three key reasons for equity investors. First is that the S&P 500 Index hit a new all-time high. The second reason is that the five-year charts, which many long-term investors use, now look great. Lastly, the third reason is that the absolute worst day and ending day of the bear market in 2009 was on March 6.

So, 24/7 Wall St. wanted to see just how different the markets were then versus now. These will look extreme, but you likely would guess that when you consider that it is from the absolute trough to the apex.

The S&P 500 Index hit a low of 666.79 on March 6, 2013. At $1,878 on March 6, 2014, the S&P 500 is up a whopping 182% from the crush-depth low!

The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a low of 6,470 on March 6, 2013. At 16,425 on March 6, 2014, it is up 154% from the lows.

The Nasdaq Composite is trading at 4,362 on March 6, 2014. Its low was 1,265.52 on March 9, 2009 (rather than March 6), and the tech-heavy index is up a whopping 244% or so since that low.

The biggest change would of course be in the banking stocks, which were one of the roots of the Great Recession. The KBW Bank Index is currently trading at 70.75 on March 6, 2014. Its crush-depth low was at 17.75 on March 6, 2014 — up an astounding 298%!

And what about bonds? The 10-year Treasury yield was 2.77% on March 6, 2009, versus 2.73% today. Just keep in mind that the same 10-year Treasury yield hit a low of 1.39% in July of 2012.

Gold was trading at roughly $942 per ounce on March 6, 2009, versus $1,345 per ounce today — after trying to make a run to $2,000 between then and now.